My view: Light bulbs go the way of our liberty

Wednesday

Dec 18, 2013 at 7:00 PM

RIP the incandescent light bulb.

RIP another piece of our liberties.

Dan Field Lake Media Reporter

RIP the incandescent light bulb.

RIP another piece of our liberties.

Congress, which has the approval rating of Pied Piper's rats, decided in 2007 that we Americans were not capable of making a rational decision and voted strict minimum efficiency standards that, in effect, forced the end of the 40 and 60-watt bulbs. In their place are more efficient and certainly more expensive CFL and LED bulbs.

We're told the CFL and LED bulbs last many, many more hours and thus the rationalization to us barbaric consumers for making the switch.

Other less publicized reports claim the new generation of bulbs is worse for the environment, and thus our health. According to an article in Scientific American, a study published in late 2010 in Environmental Science and Technology found that LEDs contain lead, arsenic and a dozen other potentially dangerous substances.

It all happens Jan. 1 when it will become illegal to manufacture or import the 40- and 60-watt incandescent bulbs. The push behind the light bulb movement is to conserve energy, and thus save us money. The law says that 40W bulbs must draw only 10.5 watts of electricity, and 60W bulbs 11 watts.

The curly-cue compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs and the newer LED bulbs are far more efficient.

Yeah, whatever.

Regardless, it's yet another example of "we the people" losing yet another sliver of our freedom. Lest I remind you of the health care mandate (aka ObamaCare) that is being forced on us? Or Transportation Security Administration (TSA) procedures that allowed strangers to touch is in places we don't want to be touched, and the development x-ray machines that stripped us of our dignity? Or NSA spying from the sky and eavesdropping on our emails and phone calls? Or forcing the food industry to remove trans fats from food?

These are personal choices being taken away one pixel at a time by a government that can't tie its proverbial shoe.

Community Info

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Lake News Online ~ 918 N. Business Route 5, Camdenton, MO 65020 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service